Bowling Green, KY – The National Corvette Museum (NCM), over 1,000 Corvette enthusiasts and the community of Bowling Green gathered to celebrate the first official sponsorship of the NCM Motorsports Park. Michelin, a global tire manufacturer, has committed to a three-year sponsorship deal.

The sponsorship will name Michelin as the official tire of the NCM Motorsports Park and will provide the company with product privileges and displays at both the Museum and Park.

Aerial photo of the NCM Motorsports Park taken Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014.

Michelin will also serve as the presenting sponsor for three events to be held at the NCM and Motorsports Park during the term of the contract.

“Michelin is pleased to extend our relationship with the Corvette community to include the exciting new NCM Motorsports Park,” said Silvia Mammone, motorsports and sponsorship marketing manager, Michelin North America.

“Since the Michelin technical partnership with Corvette Racing began in 2004, we have developed a strong relationship with Corvette owners and enthusiasts through the Corvette car corrals, the Ron Fellows Driving School at Spring Mountain, and more recently the National Corvette Museum,” said Mammone. “The fact that every new Corvette C7 Stingray and ZO6 Corvette now rolls out of Bowling Green exclusively on Michelin tires aligns perfectly with the launch of the NCM Motorsports Park and our growing relationship with the Corvette Nation.”

The NCM broke ground on the $25 million, 184-acre, dual-track Motorsports Park in June of 2013 and the venue is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors each year. This will bring an estimated impact of $15 million in motorsports tourism and racing events revenues.

“In 2008 we purchased our first piece of land for a future motorsports park, and in 2013 we held our groundbreaking ceremony. During that 5-year period our fundraising was primarily grassroots efforts – with key support from Corvette and automotive enthusiasts including individuals, clubs and small business owners,” stated Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the NCM. “This sponsorship from Michelin gives the project a big boost of momentum. We are excited about the opportunities a partnership between Michelin, the Motorsports Park and the Museum will bring.”

In addition to the two circuits that combine to form a high speed loop of 1.96 miles to an extended 3.15 mile course, the park will also feature a control tower with classrooms, offices and meeting spaces; garages; a fueling station; overnight camping; and commercial property available for businesses that complement the operations of the park.

“The National Corvette Museum has been a staple in the Bowling Green community since it first opened its doors and continues to be a contributor to the local economy attracting 150,000 visitors annually. Not only will the addition of the Motorsports Park increase the significant economic impact on the community, but the additional services and venues that will be available at the park will further the value of the region as an automotive hub. We are proud to be home to America’s Sports Car,” stated John Mark Fones, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman.

To date, there are already more than 130 days books at the track in the first year. “In addition to the opportunities this sponsorship brings to the Motorsports Park, Museum and Michelin, we look forward to also working with Michelin as a customer at the Park for possible product launches, testing and consumer activities,” stated Mitch Wright, Motorsports Park General Manager.

The park is accepting reservations for car and motorcycles clubs, businesses, driving schools and other groups for racing events, high performance drivers’ education, corporate events and hospitality and other track functions. All makes and models are welcome.

About the National Corvette Museum

Since 1953 the Corvette has been America’s Sports Car. The National Corvette Museum was established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette; preserving its past, present and future; and educating the public about Corvette. The Museum is open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm CT and is located at exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

About the NCM Motorsports Park

With over one mile of frontage on Interstate 65 and located across from the National Corvette Museum (NCM) and the GM Corvette Assembly Plant, the NCM Motorsports Park will be one of the most centrally located and easily accessible driving facilities in the country. The top priority of the NCM Motorsports Park is education and safety.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases.

Headquartered in Greenville, SC, Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,000 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.